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[Saba Sports News] The prolonged anticipation for Kawhi Leonard’s return seems to be nearing its end. Leonard is reportedly set to play for the Los Angeles Clippers in their Saturday game against the Atlanta Hawks at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California.
Though the Clippers haven’t officially confirmed this, Leonard has been upgraded to “questionable” on the injury report for the first time this season.
Saturday’s game would mark Leonard’s debut at the Clippers’ new billion-dollar home arena. The 6-time All-Star has missed the first 34 games due to a persistent right knee injury. Despite his absence, the Clippers have maintained a respectable 19-15 record.
The Clippers’ January 4th matchup against the Hawks is a fitting choice for Leonard’s return. It is the team’s only home game amidst five road games from December 31st to January 8th.
Teams generally prefer to have injured players return at home to ensure a smooth transition.
Leonard was relatively injury-free for most of last season, averaging 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.6 assists over 68 games. However, his injury issues resurfaced after the regular season.
The 33-year-old played only two games during the Clippers’ first-round exit against the Dallas Mavericks and had to withdraw from Team USA for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Last month, Leonard hinted at his return with a surprising social media post. Since then, Clippers fans have eagerly awaited the 2-time Finals MVP’s season debut.